Apexel vs Apex please help

[EricLibs]

Here is a list of the equipment I'd like to control and the parameters of like to keep an eye on. I was thinking about getting the Apex el but I'm not sure if it'll work with everything I have.

2 maxspect gyre XF230
Reef octo varios 6 dc return pump
2 kessil A360WE
4 lamp T5 non dimmable 2 plugs
Heater
Basic skimmer not DC
2 110v brs dosers
That's it for equipment for now

I don't care about orp or salinity I really only need ph and temp probes...

In the future I may want to get the flow monitors but as of right now I don't need them it would more be just out of curiosity or to know of my pump was failing.

 

[Crabs McJones]

The only issue I see is the apex EL does not come with 0-10v outputs for the control of the kessil lights. If you get the EL a separate module needs to be purchased to control them if that's how you want to run them.

 

[Jeto2004]

Apex EL and EB823 should be sufficient. If for whatever reseon you need ORP or Salinity later you can expand via modules. That assumes you are not interested in controlling kesill’s intensity via apex that would need additional module.

 

[EricLibs]

The only issue I see is the apex EL does not come with 0-10v outputs for the control of the kessil lights. If you get the EL a separate module needs to be purchased to control them if that's how you want to run them.

Thank you for the reply !!! I could be wrong but I think the reef octo varios pump requires a 0-10v control as well which the apexel doesn't have ? If that's the case I would need the vdm to control the varios pump also ? I'm ok with not being able to control the kessils but the return pump I really want to be able to control from my phone

 

[Crabs McJones]

Thank you for the reply !!! I could be wrong but I think the reef octo varios pump requires a 0-10v control as well which the apexel doesn't have ? If that's the case I would need the vdm to control the varios pump also ? I'm ok with not being able to control the kessils but the return pump I really want to be able to control from my phone

The reef octopus comes with it's own controller, the VarioS Controller

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

Thank you for the reply !!! I could be wrong but I think the reef octo varios pump requires a 0-10v control as well which the apexel doesn't have ? If that's the case I would need the vdm to control the varios pump also ? I'm ok with not being able to control the kessils but the return pump I really want to be able to control from my phone

If you want to control the speed of the return pump from your apex, you either need the ApexEL and a VDM module, or the full Apex. If you just want on/off control, you can plug the return pump into an EB832 outlet and go with the cheaper ApexEL.

 

[Loggerhead]

If you want to control the speed of the return pump from your apex, you either need the ApexEL and a VDM module, or the full Apex. If you just want on/off control, you can plug the return pump into an EB832 outlet and go with the cheaper ApexEL.

This exactly. I just had to buy a VDM for my Varios 8. If I have researched everything correctly, either with the full apex or using the VDM to control the pump you will not use a power outlet on the EB832. You can plug it directly into a wall outlet and save one of the controllable ones for something else.

 

[SuncrestReef]

If you intend to control the Gyre XF-230's (either speed or direction) through the Apex then you need the 0-10v variable ports, plus the IceCap Grye module (discontinued, but still available at some online retailers).

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Can you attach an ecotech MP 40 to the EL version? What about a Trident?

 

[SuncrestReef]

Can you attach an ecotech MP 40 to the EL version? What about a Trident?

Trident: Yes

MP40: Requires the Neptune WXM module which has been discontinued. You’d need to find someone selling one 2nd hand. Also, if the MP40 has been connected through Mobius, you’ll need to downgrade the MP40 firmware to make it compatible with the WXM.

 

[Sleeping Giant]

Trident: Yes

MP40: Requires the Neptune WXM module which has been discontinued. You’d need to find someone selling one 2nd hand. Also, if the MP40 has been connected through Mobius, you’ll need to downgrade the MP40 firmware to make it compatible with the WXM.

I don't have the Mobius chip in my MP40 controller it's the "W" version. So you're saying that I won't be able to hook it up to the apex?
Another question: can I book up any dosing pumps to the Apex or apex EL?

 

[SuncrestReef]

I don't have the Mobius chip in my MP40 controller it's the "W" version. So you're saying that I won't be able to hook it up to the apex?
Another question: can I book up any dosing pumps to the Apex or apex EL?

If all you want is simple On/Off control of the MP40, then just plug its power cord into the Apex EnergyBar.

But if you want speed control or programmable flow patterns controlled by the Apex, then you need the WXM module.

Neptune has the DOS for dosing. See my DOS Tutorial here for details: https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/neptune-apex-tutorials-part-9-dos.849/

You can also control simple dosing pumps (like the BRS dosing pump) from the Apex with basic On/Off programming based on time.

 

[SuncrestReef]

If you do choose a BRS or other simple dosing pump, you can use this site to automatically generate the Apex programming based on the pump rate and desired volume:

Apex Dosing Program Generator

Makes it easy to program your Apex for dosing of calcium and alkalinity supplements

www.reeftronics.net

 

[Sleeping Giant]

If you do choose a BRS or other simple dosing pump, you can use this site to automatically generate the Apex programming based on the pump rate and desired volume:

Apex Dosing Program Generator

Makes it easy to program your Apex for dosing of calcium and alkalinity supplements

www.reeftronics.net

Awesome, thanks